Monolithic filing cabinet and attachment therefor



June 2, 1931. c, wo s 1,807,948

MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed June 16 1925 5Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y3.

June 2, 1931. 1,807,948

MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR c. F. WOLTERS FiledJune 16 25 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIILtF E C N\ June 2, 1931. c, wo s1,807,948

MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed June 16 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 3 16 /z i \7. I

' INVENTOR. M 7m 2 MW ATTORNEYX.

June 2, 1931. c. F. WOLTERS MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHIENTTHEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16 '1925 L Z %VE%TOR.

// //Z a o ATTORNEYK.

June 2, 1931. c. F. WOLTERS 1,307,948

MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHIENT THEREFOR Filed June 16, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 \wxw H1 1 H'HIIIII ll' ]N VENTOR.

Paten s Jun 2,1931

' UNITED: STATES.

PA E T, o FICE CARL I. WOLTERS, OEMARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNO R, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO REM- INGTON RAND INC., NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE MONOLITHIC FILING CABINET AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR' Applicationfiled June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in vertical filing cabinets and,more particularly, cabinets adapted to afford safe storage space forvertical files.

5 Cabinets of this character preferably have a cast monolithic bodyprovided with a plurality of superimposed separate and independentcompartments in each of which a drawer is mounted for sliding movement.

1 These drawers are supported on guides which economical method by whichsuch means may be incorporated in the cast cabinet body.

This invention provides a novel method of making a filing cabinet inwhich a preformed sheet metal outer casing is positioned in a mold andreceives core molds for forming the independent compartments which areheld in position by the casing so that the monolithic body will be castintegrally with the metal casing and have a substantially uniformsection throughout.

The method of this invention further provides a convenient way ofplacing and retaining the independent core molds in position through theback of the metal casing with the ends engaged in the compartmentdefining portions at the front portion of the casing, where they areretained in proper relation during molding of the lIlOi'lfJliiihlCmaterial therein so that the drawer guides may be readily mounted inproper position in the completed cabinet for supporting and guiding thedrawers in and out of the compartments without binding, and to align thedrawer front for even interfitting engagement with the front of thecabinet in the closed position for sealing the compartment.

1925. Serial No. 37,527.

A further object of the invention is to so constitute the drawer lockingmeans that it too, may be efficiently incorporated into the structure.

Monolithic cabinet bodies are usually cast and, in accordance with thisinvention, the anchorages or supports for the drawer guides are castdirectly in the monolith; in the preferred embodiment of the invention,the' drawer guides are supported on upright metallic elements, whichextend for the greater portion of the height of the cabinet, and serveto support all of the guides. These elements are introduced into theconstruction by mounting them on the cores of the mold which is utilizedin effecting the casting of the mono- 11th. In this manner, saidelements may be accurately positioned and spaced with respect to oneanother, and when the casting is made, they are embodied directlytherein. After the casting is set, the retaining means, by which suchelements were secured to the cores, are released and said cores arewithdrawn, leaving the supporting elements permanently n posltlon.

I have further found that it is highly practical to so fashion one ofthe drawer supporting elements that it serves as a housing for a drawerlocking bolt which may thus also be included in the cabinet body duringcasting thereof.

The invention therefore provides, not only eflicient and practical meansfor supporting drawers within a monolithic cabinet body, but alsoincludes a novel method of incorporating such means within the monolith.

Features of the invention other than those adverted to, will be apparentfrom the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of thestructural features of this invention, as well as one manner in whichthe method may be performed, but it will be understood that this showingis for the purpose of illustration only and does not define the limitsof the invention.

Figure l is a transverse section of the outer sheet metal skin of thebody of the cabinet, as initially constructed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the mold andcores in section and in a position ready for the casting operation.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showin the outer skinin section, but the male mol member in elevation.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the finished monolithic body ofthe cabinet with, the back in place.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the drawer guidesand the drawer in position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the body of the cabinet with thedrawers removed and certain parts broken away in the interest ofclearness.

Figure 7 is a fragmental vertical front-t0- rear section through thecabinet showing the drawers and their locking means in elevation Zand-the body of the cabinet in section; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a lock actuating member mounted on theuppermost drawer of Figure 7.

In building a cabinet in accordance with the present invention, theouter skin 1 is first constructed and formed into proper shape. Thisouter skin is of sheet metal and is made in the size and proportiondesired. It is preferably rectangular, is closed on its sides, top andbottom, while its sixth side is provided with drawer openin s 4. Theback is left open, the rear wall being later attached, for reasons whichwill be hereinafter explained. About the margin ofeach drawer opening 4,the sheet metal skin is stepped and shaped in the usual manner as shownat 3, and interiorly of each door opening'the skin is ste ped back asshown at 5.

After t e outer skin has been formed as described, it is laid face downon a molding board 6 and thereafter a female mold or form 611 is placedaboutthe skin. This form serves to hold the skin in pro er shape and topreelude .its walls from ulging when plastic material is subsequentlintroduced into the interior of such outer s in. Tapered hollow cores 7are thereafter adapted to be brought into cooperation with the outerskin and since a three drawer cabinet is chosen for illustration, threecores will be employed.

Before placing these cores within the outer skin they are very carefullyarranged in proper relation and the drawer supporting elements aremounted thereon. These supporting elements are designated 8, 9, 10 and11. The elements 8 and 9 are mounted near the smaller ends of the coresin parallel relation to one another and in a position to be upstandingin a finished cabinet, while the elements 10 and 11 are mounted nearerthe larger ends of thecores in parallel relation to each other and tothe elements 8 and 9. The

elements 8 and 9 are of channelled cross section and have steppedflanges. They are mounted with their flat sides abutting the cores andare held in position by screws 12,

which are inserted from the interior of the.

cores.

The supporting elements 10 and 11 are each of a box-like constructionand embody a channelled section 13, corresponding in shape to thechannelled sections 8 and 9, and a cover plate 14, the lateral edges ofwhich are lapped over the flanges of the channelled sections 13 to forma hollow box-like construction. The supporting elements 10 and 11 aresecured to thecores by means of screws 15 introduced from the inside ofthe cores.

lrior to securing the several supportin elements to the cores, a bar 16is position within the element 11 and this bar constitutes part of thelocking means for the several drawers and will be hereinafter more fullydescribed in this connection. Sutficeit to state here that it is housedwithin the box-like supporting element 11 and is introduced thereinprior to securing this element to the cores 7. After the drawersupporting elements have been rigidly secured to the several cores 7 inthe manner described the cores e transported to and lowered into the oter sln'n.

hey come to a seat on the molding board 6 as shown in Fig. 3 and it willbe noted from this figure that those portions 7a of the cores whichextend through the drawer openings of the skin are not tapered as theremainder of said cores, but are straight. This permits the cores to beintroduced in the manner described and during this operation the coreswill be automatically centralized.

These straight portions 7 a have the largest size of the cores, andslidabl fit in the openings formed in the front wall portion of thepreformed casing member or skin 1. The fit is close so that no. plasticmaterial will enter between the portions 7a of the cores and theadjacent portions of the casingmemher at 4 which defines the outer endof each compartment. This relation between the casing member and thecores provides a means for properly aligning the cores so they will formthe compartments in the proper relation in the cabinet. The bars 8, 9,l0 and 11 also cooperate in retaining the cores in proper spaeed andaligned relation with the casing so that in the completed cabinet thedrawer guides will support the drawers for even movement in and out ofthe compartments and always align the fronts 22 so the grooves aroundthe marginal portions will seat in the com lementary portions 3 on thecasin and e ectively seal the contents of the ca'mbers when t e drawersare closed.

After the cores, with the drawer supports assembled thereon, have beenbrought into pro er cooperation with the skin, as descri d, the materialwhich is to form the monolithic structure is introduced in plasticcondition and fills the entire confines of the outer skin exteriorly ofthe cores and in so doing thoroughly embeds the stepped portion 5, whichconstitutes the free edge of the skin, as clearly shown in Figure 4, soas to thoroughly anchor the margin of the skin at its free edges. At thesame time the flanges of the supporting elements 9 and 10, as well asthe corresponding parts of the supporting elements 10 and 11 areembedded in the material and are firmly anchored therein with the innersurface of the cast material flush with the surface 4 of the skin andwith the corresponding exposed surfaces of the supporting elements.

The outer skin is filled to its upper edge, and the plastic materialthereupon left to set or solidify. After sufliciently hardened, eithernaturally or artificially, the metallic back plate 2 is applied to themonolithic body by welding said plate, or otherwise securing it to theside walls.

It is feasible, moreover, in practice to secure the back plate inposition immediately after the casting is made and without waiting forit to set.

The female mold members or forms 6a are now removed and the cabinetbody, with cores therein, is tilted over to provide access to theinterior of the cores. The screws 12 and 15 are now removed to releasethe supporting elements 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the cores are thereuponwithdrawn. The casting, with the outer skin and supporting elements nowpermanently associated therewith is now ready to receive the drawerguides.

It will be understood from the above description that this inventionprovides a new method of making monolithic filing cabinets having aplurality of independent compartments in the monolithic body so that thematerial filed in each compartment is insulated from fire in the othercompartments and also fire exterior of the cabinet. Further, in makingthe improved filing cabinet, the metallic casing member forms a femalemold to impart the proper exterior shape to the monolithic body andwhile it is preferred that the casing member and monolith be integral inthe finished cabinet, it is obviously not necessary, as it may be moldedseparately and afterwards slipped in and retained by the back wall. Butthe integral construction is preferred because the edges of the casingare embedded in it and the monolith adheres to the walls of the casingthereby making the structure rigid, sound proof, and preventing bulgingof the casing relative to the monolith.

The casing also provides stress reducing portions at the front edges ofthe cabinet and along the front portions of the walls separating thecompartments, and with the bar members 8, 9, 10 and 11, cooperates toprovide a substantially strong fire resistant cabinet.

The casing also forms a substantial protection to the monolithic body toprevent checking, chipping or breaking during moving and handling thecabinet as well as aiding in preservin its integrity from a fallresulting during a re. Thls casing member further protects the monolithfrom the direct action of a fire and where fire is applied to one sideor corner portion as frequently hap ens, it will tend to dissipate theheat by conduction and radiation to other portions thereof. Where amonolithic body is used having moisture chemidally retained thereinwhich is released under the heat of a fire, the casing will retain thereleased moisture and effectively apply it to prevent burning of thecontents of each and all the compartments.

Wl1ile the different forms of guides may be employed, a verysatisfactory arrangement is shown in Figure 6 as comprising threetelescoping sections 17, 18 and 19, it being understood that two suchguides are associated with each drawer when positioned on opposite sidesthereof. Each guide section 19 is secured to one of the supportingelements 8 and the corresponding supportin'g element 10 by means ofscrews passed through such guide sections and entering the tapped holes12a and 15a in the supporting elements which were previously occupiedduring the casting operation by the screws 12 and 15. The insertion ofthese screws serve to firmly mount the telescoping section 19 inposition. The section 17 is permanently secured to the correspondingside of the associated drawer by screws or rivets passed through holes20, while the section 18 is interposed between the sections 17 and 19and interfits with both. This arrangement permits the drawer to bewithdrawn almost entirely from its compart ment while remaining properlysupported on the guides.

It will of course be understood that each of the three compartmentsshown is fitted with guides in the same manner as described inconnection with the single guide already referred to, and that thedrawer is cooperable with each compartment. In Figure 7 of the drawings,two drawers are shown, the upper or top drawer being designated 21, andnext lower drawer being designated 21a. These two drawers are identicalin construction and the bottom drawer is constructed in a like manner.The body of each drawer is preferably made of sheet metal and the frontof each drawer is made in the form of a monolithic slab, provided withan outer skin of sheet metal. The four margins of each slab are shapedas usual to interfit with the drawer openings of the cabinet body whenthe drawers are closed.

Reference has hereinbefore been made to the locking bar 16 which ismounted for sliding movement within the supporting element 11. This barconstitutes a locking bolt and carries locking pins 25, 25a and 25bwhich project through slots 26 formed in the channeled section 13 andextend for an appreciable distance into the interior of each drawercavity and into cooperative relation. with locking means mounted on theseveral drawers.

By reference to Figure 7, it will be noted that the means mounted on thedrawer 22 and adapted for cooperation with the pin 25 constitutesactuating means for the bar and is in the form of an oil-set plate 27.This plate is shown in perspective in Figure 8 as having feet 28perforated for attachment to the side of the drawer. The plate isprovided with a slot 29, a ortion 30 of which is inclined, while afurther portion 21 of which is horizontal.

The locking bar 16 normally gravitates into its lowermost position asshown in full lines in Figures 7 and the plate 27 is mounted in suchrelative position on the drawer that when the drawer is moved from opento closed position, the pin 25 of the locking bar will enter and beengaged by the inclined portion 30 of the slot, so that as closingmovement of the drawer continues, the locking bar will be elevated. Whenthe drawer is fully closed. the pin will occupy the horizontal portion31 of the slot and the bar will be locked in its uppermost dotted lineposition of Figure 7.

The vertical operation of the locking bar is necessary in order that thebar may be shifted to bring the pins 25a and 256 into and out ofcooperation with locking devices mounted on the lower drawers. Thelocking devices for each of such drawers is the same in both instancesand embodies a spring pressed latch 32 pivoted at 33 and cooperating wth a stop 34. The pivot 33 and stop34= are r1g1d w th the drawer and thenose of the latch is 1nclined as shown at 35.

- closed without eflecting any movement of the latch or any locking ofthe parts. This is because of the fact that the locking bar w1ll be inits depressed position and will hold the locking pins 25, 25a and 256out of the paths of the latches. However, if the upper drawer is closed,and the locking bar consequently elevated, the subsequent closing of oneof the lower drawers will cause this latch to r 1de over the locking pin(for example locking pin 25a) and to automatically engage with such pin,as shown in dotted l1nes1n Figure 7. When any lower drawer ,is locked byengagement with the locking pin in the manner described, it cannot beopened unt l the top drawer is opened to permit lowerlng of the lockingbar 16. In practice, the top drawer 1s preferably provided with asuitable key actuated lock 23, so that it may be locked in closedposition independently of the lockin means which I have hereinbeforedescribed and since it controls the operation of such locking means, itnecessarily follows that the locking of the top drawer in closed ositionwill preclude the opening of any of t e other drawers. It will beequally clear, however, that if any of the other drawers are opened atthe time of locking the top drawer, these open drawers may be closed atwill and will automatically lock upon the completion of such operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that theinvention provides a novel method for incorporating drawer supports in amonolithic filing cabinet. The monolith may be economically andefiiciently produced and by casting-the supports directly in themonolith a strong and rigid construction results and there is nopossibility of the supports becoming disengaged through excessivestrains or hard usage. These supports, in fact, become a permanent partof the cabinet and cannot under any circumstances be torn therefrom. Animportant consideration resides in the ease and exception with which themethod may be carried on. The casting of the supports directly withinthe monolith during the casting operation does not require appreciablymore time than was heretofore necessary to simply cast the cabinetwithout such supports. Moreover, when the supports are cast in, all thetime heretofore required for subsequently installing supports for thedrawers is eliminated and a better construction results.

So far as the structure is concerned, independently of the method, it isa marked improvement on prior practice. Ido not only obtain a betterconstruction from the standpoint of anchorage, but, furthermorereinforce the entire cabinet by the inclusion of such supports. Theyextend substantially the full height of the cabinet and impart theretogreat rigidity which is particularly desirable in maintaining theintegrity of the parts when a cabinet falls as in the event of fire.

Of considerable practical importance also is the housing of the lockingbolt within one of the supports. This assemblage not only maintains thelocking bolt in concealed position wherein it is fully protected againstdamage, but proper guiding means is thereby afforded for the operationof such bolt. Moreover, the casting of the locking bolt in the wall ofthe cabinet conserves the space within the drawer chambers and thedrawers can be made wider than has hitherto been possible under thepractice of mounting the locking means inside of said chambers.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical form. but the invention is to be understood as fullycommensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of incor crating in a monolithic structure, adapted or useas a vertical file, metallic devices adapted for cooperation withdrawers suitable for use in said structure, which consists in mountingsaid devices on the exterior of a core by means detachable from theinterior of the. core, then casting the monolith and releasing saidsescuring means.

2. The method of incorporating in a monolithic structure, adapted foruse as a vertical file, metallic devices adapted for cooperation withdrawers suitable for use in said structure, which consists in providinga plurality of hollow cores and mounting on the exterior of said coressuitable metallic drawer anchorage and locking means, and securing thesame to said cores by means controllable from the interior of the cores,then casting said monolithic structure with such anchorage and lockingmeans incorporated therein, then releasing said metallic elements fromthe cores.

3. The method of incorporating in a monolithic structure, adapted foruse as a vertical file, metallic devices adapted for cooperation withdrawers suitable for use in said structure, which consists in mountingmetallic bars on the exterior of said cores in parallel relation, andsecuring the same to the exterior of said cores by means controllablefrom the interior of the cores, such, bars being adapted to serve thepurpose of anchorage or locking means, in cooperation with said drawers,then casting said monolith and releasing the attachment between thecores and said bars.

4. The method of incorporating in a mono lithic structure, adapted foruse as a vertical file, metallic devices adapted for cooperation withdrawers suitable for use in said structure, which consists in mountingmetallic bars on the exterior of said cores in parallel relation, andsecuring the same to the exterior of said cores by means controllablefrom the interior of the cores, such bars being adapted to serve thepurpose of anchorage or locking means, in cooperation with said drawers,one of said sets of parallel bars being provided with suitable apertureswhich are adapted to cooperate with drawer suspension means, and theother set of said bars being in the form of a sheath adapted to receivea locking bolt and suitable to cooperate with corresponding lockingmeans carried by the drawers, then casting said monolith and releasingthe attachment between the cores and said bars.

5. The method of making a fire-resisting filing cabinet, consisting informing sheet metal into side, top, bottom, back and front walls,forming the front wall to provide a plurality of drawer compartmentopenings and a covering for the front edges of the walls and partitionsof a lining therefor, providing an opening in one of the other wallportions, and integrally joining said walls for forming an outer casing,inserting said casing in an outer mold, inserting core molds into saidcasing and outer mold and engaging the ends of said core molds in thedrawer compartment openings in the front wall of said casing to positionsaid core molds for cooperation with said casing to define the wallsurfaces of drawer compartments in said casing, filling said casingaround said core molds through the opening in said other wall portionwith plastic material to form a mono lithic lining in said casing havingintegral outer walls, and partition walls between drawer compartmentswith the front edges of said walls embraced by the front wall of saidcasing and the inner surfaces of said lining forming inner exposed wallsof drawer compartments, placing a sheet metal casing porside, top andbottom walls of said body, with a front Wall portion defining the openends of the compartments in the body; placing compartment defining coremolds in said female mold with an end portion of each slidablyinterfitting in one of the openings of the front wall portion; applyingconnecting elements to the opposite ends of said core molds to retainthem in aligned relation and at proper spaced intervals; filling saidfemale mold around said core mold with body forming plastic material toform unitary walls with said connecting elements embedded therein andafter hardening of said material removing said body from said femalemold aml said 'core molds through the openings defined by the front wallportion after detachment of said core molds from said connectingelements.

7. The method of making a monolithic filing cabinet having a pluralityof independent drawer compartments, which consists in placing apreformed casing member front downwards in an open-topped female mold,

said casing member being formed to provide spaced aligned relation;filling said casing membera'round said core molds with lastic materialto form a monolithic lining in said casing and the walls of said comartments;

applying a metallicbacking mem r to said casin member; removing saidcasing from said emale mold; and finally detaching said core molds fromsaid connecting members and removing said core molds through theopenings in the front portion of said casing member.

8. The methodof making a monolithic filing cabinet having a plurality ofindependent drawer compartments, which consists in placing a preformedcasing member front downwards in an open-topped female mold, said casingmember being formed to provide outside top, bottom and side Walls forthe cabinet, and having the front wall portion formed to define the openends of said compartments; inserting a plurality of core molds throughthe open top of said female mold into said casing member, each of saidcore molds engaging in one of the openings in the front portion of saidcasing member and being positioned in aligned relation thereby, saidcore molds havin a transverse section of smaller dimension t an theopenings in said front wall portion; attaching a plurality of barmembers to said core molds extending from the top to the bottom portionof said casing for retaining said core molds in fixed, spaced andaligned relation; filling said casing member around said core molds withplastic material to form a monolithic body integral therewith and inwhich said bar members are embedded; applying a metallic back member tosaid casing member and body; removing said casing member from the'female mold; detaching said core molds from said bar members; andfinally withdrawing said core molds through the openings in the frontwall portion of said casing member.

9. The method of makin a fire resisting filing cabinet, consisting ofgorming an outer sheet metal casing having a front wall formed to definedrawer compartment openings, inserting forms into said drawer com- 7partment openings to define drawer compartments in said casing,attaching bars to said forms extending along the sides of thecompartments to be formed, filling said casing with lastic material inthe spaces around said orms to provide a monolithic lining, and removingsaid forms leaving said bars embedded in the surface of said lining.

Signed by me at Marietta this 2d day of May, 1925. o0 CARL F. WOLTERS.

